Universidad Simón Bolívar

ID2126

Week 10: Acoustics


acoustics.jpg

Week 10 Objectives

By the end of Week 10, students will have:
  • been introduced to the topic of controlling sound within buildings
  • read and listened about the uses and applications of Acoustics in Architecture and Urban Design
  • read and discussed book descriptions and book reviews about Architectural Acoustics in Amazon (RSTT/Optional)
  • watched videos of concert halls and opera houses (RSTT/Optional)
  • developed skills of Observation, Research, and Critical Thinking to present their RSTT
  • watched and discussed the video "Noise Kills"
  • summarized a professor's lecture after listening to a podcast on Sound & Architecture
  • discussed about various concert halls and opera houses (RSTT/Optional)
  • created a page dedicated to Acoustics in their wikispaces
  • learned vocabulary related to Acoustics
  • added new words to the glossary in Moodle
  • discussed guidelines and grading criteria for Final Project (both options) with the teacher

Introduction to the Unit of Acoustics (Group work/ whole-class discussion)


According to the information published in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Architectural Acoustics is conceived as the science of controlling sound within buildings. The first application of architectural acoustics was in the design of opera houses and then concert halls. More widely, noise suppression is critical in the design of multi-unit dwellings and business premises that generate significant noise, including music venues like bars. The more mundane design of workplaces has implications for noise health effects. Do you ever think about controlling sound when you work in your design projects?

Day 1: Acoustics (Pair Work)

Part I:

Open Yahoo Messenger and start a chat with a classmate to discuss the answers to these questions, (including the video).
  • Pay special attention to:
  1. the content of your answers
  2. taking turns in the discussion (do not monopolize turns)
  3. the language you use while chatting (vocabulary and structure)

QUESTIONS:
  • Have you ever thought about the effects that Architectural Acoustics can produce in the perception people have of certain places (residential building, office building, school, university, hospital, museum, library, church, gallery, concert hall or opera house)
  • Did you know that elevated noise levels create stress, increase workplace accident rates, and stimulate aggression and other anti-social behaviors? (Give examples)
  • Did you know that unwanted noise in buildings can be prevented, reduced or controlled just by thinking about the acoustics of your designs and plans? How is that?
  • What are the unwanted noises people can be exposed to in different places? Give examples... What about in your own house?
  • Watch this video and discuss its content with a classmate. What is the message the video is expected to transmit?
  • Upload chatlog to the corresponding forum in Moodle.

NOISE_IN_DWELLINGS.jpg

Part II:

After having finished and uploaded the chatlog, go back to the conversation and discussion log of acoustics, and using the information contained in it, EDIT the chatlog to make it a real F2F conversation pretending a reporter is interviewing an architect about this topic.
  • Customize questions and answers to your specific situation
  • Write a dialogue/ conversation script (questions and answers)
  • Record the interview in Audacity or in Springdoo. (Recording 3 / 3 pts)

Add your interview script and link to the recording to a new page named "Acoustics" in your wikis. Write a brief introduction at the beginning of the page to tell people what it is all about!

Listening 3 and note-taking (3pts):

  • Listen to a podcast on Sound and Architecture by Professor Murray Hodgson
  • Take notes on the content of the podcast as you listen to Prof. Hodgson speak.
  • Summarize the information in the podcast, and write a paragraph to tell people what this podcast is about.
  • Post your summary in your Acoustics wiki page with a brief introduction to it.


Day 2: Acoustics


ShowTelllogo.jpg

Observation, Research, and Critical Thinking

Research-Show-Tell-Task (8 pts)


Show and tell is the process of showing an audience something and telling them about it. It is usually done in a classroom. It is an educational technique for helping people practice the skills of public speaking. In our particular context, it is considered a short informal oral presentation aided by visuals using the web.
  • Students will search the web for varied topics dealing with Architectural Acoustics until they find something SHORT of their interest and like.
  • Students will explain to the class why they chose this item, where they got it, and other relevant information.
  • Students will present their topic to the class in NO MORE than 5 MINUTES. Presentations will take place on the first day of Week 11, so be prepared to be in class.
While presenters are doing their Show & Tell, the audience will be taking notes on the presentations. At the end, students in the audience will select (1) of the presentations, write a brief summary of it and post it in their Acoustics wiki page.

What do I present in my RSTT?

sm_ShowAndTell.jpg I have to look for something to take for Show-and-Tell.
Where is my new baseball bat or snapping turtle shell?
I know I saw my horseshoe in here somewhere yesterday
Along with my harmonica, but where, I couldn't say.
I'd thank my lucky stars if I could find my telescope,
my kite, or model airplane, but I don't believe there's hope.
I've got it! I know what to take! Oh, this will be so cool!
Scruffy, come on, follow me; you get to go to school!





Search the web using any search engine until you find a topic dealing with Architectural Acoustics that you consider interesting enough as to do your RSTT about it...